A Comprehensive Analysis of Fatigue and Healing Capacity of Sasobit Polymer-Modified Asphalt from Two Perspectives: Binder and FAM

Abstract

Wax-based Sasobit synthetic hard wax can be designed for producing asphalt with less energy consumption and lower carbon emissions in the pavement industry. This study investigated the effectiveness of Sasobit synthetic hard wax on microscopic properties, fatigue-fracture behavior, and healing potential of polymer-modified asphalt (PMA) from two perspectives: asphalt binder and fine aggregate matrix (FAM). First, microscopic morphology, dispersion mechanism, and thermal stability of styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS)– and crumb rubber (CR)–modified asphalt binders under the influence of Sasobit synthetic hard wax were characterized. Second, linear viscoelastic properties and evolution law of fatigue life of Sasobit synthetic hard wax/polymer-modified asphalt binders and FAM with and without healing interval were assessed under the framework of the simplified viscoelastic continuum damage (S-VECD) model. Third, the correlation between properties of the modified asphalt binder and FAM was statistically analyzed by radar chart. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that Sasobit synthetic hard wax enhanced the thermal stability of PMA but slightly reduced the low-temperature performance. Morphological observations showed that Sasobit synthetic hard wax had limited effectiveness on the dispersion of the polymer particles in PMA. Dynamic modulus master curves and fatigue and healing tests demonstrated that Sasobit synthetic hard wax contributes to the stiffness, fatigue resistance, and self-healing capability of the asphalt binder and mixture. Finally, statistical analysis revealed that the asphalt binder performance lacked a close correlation with the FAM owing to the complex composition system.